ABSTRACT
This chapter examines several social perspectives on choice, including rational choice theory (or market theory), institutional theory, social capital theory, and the social organization of schooling. Rational choice theory provides a rationale for many forms of school choice—emphasizing parental preferences, school autonomy, innovation, and accountability. By contrast, the institutional perspective predicts that school choice will not result in widespread innovation and different school organizational forms. Social capital theory directs attention on the micro-level processes by providing a lens on how the face-to-face social relationships among individuals and groups can promote certain goals and outcomes. The social organization of schooling perspective emphasizes how school structure and processes are related to student outcomes. There continues to be a need for researchers to expand social capital and school organization perspectives to examine what occurs inside various schools of choice—especially given the heterogeneity of student and school effects that are emerging in the research on charter schools and voucher programs. By examining the social structures and processes within schools, classrooms, and families, we will broaden our theoretical understanding and extend our knowledge about the conditions under which choice is effective or not.
